Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-21

At the gateway this fosse was spanned by a
primitive drawbridge which was let down
by the guard to allow us to pass in IT'S kraal
was exceedingly well laid out Through
the center ran wide pathway intersected
at right angles by other pathways so ar
ranged as to cut the hats into square blocks,
each block being the quarters Of company.
The huts were deme-shaped and built, Exc
those of the Iulas, of q framework of wat
tie, beautifully thatched with grass; bat, I'M
like the Zulu huts, they had doorwsys
through which one could walk. Also they
were much larger, and surrounded with
veranda about six feet wide, beautifully
paved with powdered lime, trOdden hard.
All along each side of the wide pathway
that pierced the kraal, were ranged hundreds
of women brought out by curiosity to look
at US. These women are, for a native race,
exceedingly handsome. They are tall and
graceful, and their figures are wonderfully
fine. The hair, though short is rather curly
. than woolly, the features are frequently
aquiline and the lips are not unpleasantly
thick as is the caSe in most African races.
But what struck us most was their exceed
ingly quiet dignified air. They were all as
Well-bred in their way as the habitues Of a
fashionable drawing room, and il this re-
spest differ from Zulu wc9nen, and their
cousins the Nasal who inlabit the district
behind Zanzibar. Their curiosity had
brought them out to see us, but they allowed
no rude expressions of wonder or savage
criticism to pass their lips as we trudged
wearhy in front of them. Not even when
old Infadoos with a surTeptitious motion Of
the hand pointed out the crowning wonder
of poor Goods beautiful white legs" did
they allow the feeling of intense admiration
which evidently mastered their minds to
find expression. They fixed their dark eyes
upon their snowy loveIness Goods skin is
exceedingly white), and that was all. But
this was quite enough for Good, who is mod
est by nature.
When we got to the center of the kraal,
Infadoos halted at the door of large hui,
which was surrounded at distance by a
circle Of smaller ones.
ENTER, sons of the stars" he said, in a
magnfloquent voice, land deign to rest
awhile In cur humble habitatiens A little
food shall be brought to you, so that We shall
have ne need to draw your belts tight from
hunger; some honey and some milk, and an
OK or two, and a few sheep; not much, my
lords, but still little food"
''It is good" said [, "Infadoos, we are
weary with travelling through realms of air:
now let us rest"
Accordingly we entered into the hut,
which we found amply prepared for our
comfort. CoucheS of tanned skins were
spread for US to rest on, and water was
placed for us to wash in.
Presently we heard shouting outside,
and stepping to the door, saw a line of dam.
sels bearing milk and roasted meaIfes, and
honey in a pot. Behind these were some
youths driving fat OK.
We received the gifts, and then one Of the
young men took the knife from his girdle
and dexteroasly cut the ox's throat. In ten
minutes it was dead, skinned and cut up.
The best Of the meat was then cut off for us,
and the rest [, in the name OF our party, pre-
sented to the warriors round us, who took
it off and distributed the white mems gift. "
Umbopa set to work, with the assistance
Of an extremely prepOSSeSSing woman, to
boil our portion in a large earthenware pot
over ere which was built outside the hut,
and when it was nearly ready we sent a
message to 1nfadOos, and asked him, and
Scragga the kings son, to join lis.
Presently they came, and sitting down up
on the little stools, of which there were sew
eral about the hut (for the Kukuanas do not
in general squat upon their launches like
the Zulus), helped us to get through our din
ner. The old gentleman was most affable
and polite but it struck us that the young
one regarded us with suspicion. He had, to.
gether with the rest OF the party, been over
| awed by cur white appearance and by our
magic properties; but it seemed to me that,
on discovering that we ate, drank and slept
like other mortals, his awe was beginning to
wear off and be replaced by sullen suspicion
which made us feel rather uncomfortable.
In the course of our meal Sir Henry sug-
gested to me that it might be we'll to try and
discover if our host knew anything of his
brothers fate, or if. they had ever seen or
heard Of him; but, on the whole, l thought
that it would be wiser to say nothing Of the
matter at that time.
To be continued.